hunterbishop.com

A couple of people sent me the County's new brochure, "Emissions from Kilauea Volcano," which introduces a color-coded " condition/response table that will be used when information is released on the current levels of sulfur dioxide at various sites." I'm assuming that's as soon as the fire departments get those monitors that are on order. It's all a very good effort to help but still a little confusing.

For example, the brochure lists a number of useful things that individuals can do to protect themselves but at the most extreme  --purple -- risk level, it's recommended that "everyone leave the area if directed by Civil Defense." What if you've done everything prescribed, or even more than the brochure suggests, to protect yourself? Will you still be forced out?

The "Emergency Plans" section is is especially unhelpful. It recommends in the event of evacuation that you have a plan to secure your home, business and property and make plans for the care of your pets. For many people that means staying put with proper respirators and air-purified indoor rooms.

As Greg Henkel suggests in his comments, we're likely to be on our own, anyway with this kind of help. So be prepared. Here's a site with some reasonably priced face masks and SO2 filters. Room air purifiers can get pricy, however.  Here are some at about $500-$600.You''l need one with the "specially impregnated activated carbon filter" for SO2, as I understand it. Good luck.